Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have made a generous donation of $1 million to aid in the relief efforts following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. These two deadly storms caused significant damage in Florida and North Carolina.
Hurricane Milton, which was classified as a Category 3 storm, resulted in at least 17 deaths. It made landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast, causing devastating flooding. The Tampa Bay Rays’ baseball stadium had its roof torn apart by the powerful winds. Additionally, nearly 1.5 million residents in Florida are currently without power, while people in St. Petersburg have been advised to boil their water for safety.
Just two weeks prior to Hurricane Milton, Hurricane Helene struck as a Category 4 storm. This hurricane has already claimed the lives of 227 individuals and left many others missing or unaccounted for. Thousands of people were left without power and isolated, particularly those residing in the western mountain regions of North Carolina.
As affected residents return to assess the damage to their homes, some are finding that everything has been destroyed. “We’ve got to start all over again,” lamented one resident from Florida.
In response to these devastating storms, both local supporters and celebrities have stepped up with generous donations to assist those affected by the disasters.
Country music star Dolly Parton recently partnered with Walmart and Sam’s Club to provide financial assistance for Hurricane Helene relief efforts. Parton personally donated $1 million towards this cause, bringing the total support for disaster relief up to $2 million. She also collaborated with Coca-Cola to deliver much-needed water supplies and volunteered at a donation drop-off location where essential items like personal hygiene products and tarps were collected.
Singer Taylor Swift also contributed significantly by donating $5 million towards relief efforts for both Hurricane Helene and Milton through Feeding America.
“Together, we can make a real impact in supporting families as they navigate the challenges ahead,” expressed Feeding America’s CEO on Instagram regarding these donations.